*50 copies limited edition* The boundary-defying percussion ensemble Onilu debuts on 577 Records with a work of striking scope, depth, and creative fire: Jakutá’s Dance. The group delivers a sonic vision that is at once elemental and exploratory—rooted in tradition yet unbound by it. Founding members Kevin Diehl and Joe Chambers are joined by Craig McIver and Daniel Villarreal, forming a dynamic quartet whose collective experience spans generations and geographies. Together, they draw from an expansive array of percussion instruments—ranging from global drum traditions to vibraphone, marimba, piano, and electronics—creating a richly layered and immersive sound world.

The album’s title reflects its spiritual and cultural grounding. “Onilu,” from the Yoruba language, translates simply as “drummers,” while “Jakutá” refers to the deity of drums, music, dance, thunder, lightning, and fire. That elemental energy pulses through the music: at once ritualistic and spontaneous, meditative and explosive.

Each member brings a deep and distinct musical lineage to the ensemble. Diehl, a former student of the late free jazz pioneer Sunny Murray, bridges avant-jazz and Afro-Yoruban traditions through his work with Sonic Liberation Front and beyond. Chambers, a legendary figure whose career includes collaborations with icons such as McCoy Tyner and Wayne Shorter, continues his lifelong exploration of percussion’s tonal possibilities. McIver, a cornerstone of the Philadelphia jazz community and former member of Max Roach’s M’Boom, contributes a uniquely versatile voice shaped by decades of collaboration. Villarreal, known for his work across Chicago’s vibrant scene and beyond, infuses the group with rhythmic fluency drawn from psychedelic funk, Latin American folk traditions, and forward-thinking jazz.

Together, Onilu transcends the conventional definition of a percussion ensemble. Across Jakutá’s Dance, the group navigates a vast musical terrain where ancient traditions meet futuristic textures, where composition intertwines with improvisation, and where cultural histories converge into something wholly new. With its expanded palette and fearless vision, Jakutá’s Dance affirms Onilu’s place at the forefront of contemporary experimental music—an ensemble not merely playing rhythms, but redefining what rhythm itself can contain.